Improvement in projectiles



R. P. PARROTT PROJECTILE.

Patented Aprl, 1876.

UNITED S'rArEs ArEwr @EEIoEc ROBERT P. PARROTT, OF GOLD SPRING, NEW YORK.

-IMPROVEMENT IN PROJECTILES. c

Specilication forming part of Letters Patent No. 175,742, dated April 4,1876; application iiled March 6, 1876.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ROBERT P. PARRo'rr, of Oold Spring, in the county of Putnam and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Combined Projectiles and Life-Lines; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, which forms part ot' this specification.

This invention relates to those means for saving life by establishing communication from the shore or elsewhere with a vessel which has been wrecked, in which a shot or projectile having a lnc attached to it is thrown from a mortar. Ordinarily', a round shot, having the line attached to it by a coiled wire, has been used for said purpose, but there has always been a difficulty in reaching a distant vessel, as the charge ot' powder, it increased, is apt to break the .line at its attachment to the shot.

In order to get greater range without thus exposing the line to breakage or disconnection, numerous attempts to attain the de siredend have been made with an elongated shot, which, owing to the reduced resistance it presents to the air over or as compared with the round shot., has a greater range for a given charge ot' powder. But in the previous use ot' elongated shots for the purpose, practical difficulties have arisen, either as regards the disposition or connection ot' the line and in other respects, which have involved so much complication or otherwise been so defective that objections have been raised to the use ot' them.

My invention not only obviates these defects, butcombines, in the use ofan elongated projectile for the purpose named, cheapness, facility, and efficiency. Thus luse a simple or plain elongated projectile,havin g no groove cut lengthwise in it for reception of the line, as in a certain other method, but I attach the line by its coiled wire to the point or front end ofthe elongated projectile, as inserted in the mortar, so that, when tiring, the check which is produced as the shot feels the draw of the line causes the shot to be turned over end for end. This, by reason of the elongated form of the shot, materially eases the strain or reduces the first shock upon the lines attachment to the shot, and the shot which draws the line after it goes perfectly true to its destination.

In this way, or by these means, I get a long range, and avoid breakage ot' the lines attachment to the shot, also secure a true travel for the latter.

In the accompanying drawing, Figure l represents a longitudinal section ot' a mortar with an elongated projectile, having a life-line attached, and as about to be thrown, the whole being constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a View on a reduced scale, showing the projectile after it has been turned end for end as it first feels the draw ot' the line upon it, and showing said shot with its attached line in the course of its tlight.

In Fig. 1, A is the mortar; B, the elongated projectile, having the line O connected, through the intel-position ot a spring or coiled wire,- D, with the forward end ot' the shot as the latter is inserted in the mortar; and E is thc charge of powder by which thc projectile with its attached, linc is thrown from the mortar, said line ybeing laid in a loose 'coiloutside ot' the mortar. In Fig. 2 the saine letters apply to like parts, but the yshot has been turned end for end as it first feels the draw upon theline.

Itis not necessary that the coiled wire D should of itself be the spring or only spring interposed between the end ot' the projectile and the line, inasmuch as a rubber strip or spring, F, may be independently applied to connect the line with the projectile and such elastic strip or spring be passed through the coiled-wire connection D.

I claim- The combination with the elongated projectile B ot' the line C and interposed spring or coiled wire D, applied to connect vthe lille with that end of the elongated projectile which is forward or outermost when the projectile is inserted in the mortar, substantially as and for the purposes herein set forth.

- ROBERT P. PARROTT. Witnesses:

HENRY JAYcoX,

ALEXANDER SKENE. 

